LIDDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on
Wednesday 4th January 2023 at 7pm in the Village Hall
Present: Councillors Aftelak, Bunney, Lomax (Chair) and Murphy
Also present: Laura Evans (Clerk)
1. APOLOGIES
Resolved: No apologies were received.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Murphy declared an interest as the Parish Council’s representative on the Village Hall Committee.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Resolved: The Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 7th December 2022 were approved and signed as a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING (10 MINUTES)
Clay Pigeon Shoot- Cllr Aftelak is still awaiting a response from the Rights Of Way Officer at SBC, will continue to chase. Action- Cllr Aftelak
Trees- Cllr Lomax spoke to the Contractor regarding the best type of tree for Spinney Close, awaiting a response.
An email was received from the Tree Council, who fund tree planting initiatives. The criteria for funding proposals should assist schools and community groups which help to educate young people. Cllr Lomax suggested that this could be an initiative to look into next year.
The Village Inn- A resident recently wrote to Arkell’s expressing concern over the pub closing. Cllr Bunney read out the response received from Arkell’s which stated that the Village Inn will be closed temporarily until a new Landlord is found, and should any residents know of someone who maybe interested in taking over the Village Inn please pass on details to Arkell’s. The meeting still wished for Cllr Bunney to write to Arkell’s to strengthen the resident’s letter. Cllr Wilson requested that in the letter a suggestion was made to Arkell’s with regard to the pub being run as a community pub/store. Action- Cllr Bunney
Churchyard Gate- Clerk to write to the remaining volunteers who helped with the fixing of the gate.
Action-Clerk
Liddington Hillfort – The grant application had been submitted for the Hillfort Trigpoint platform and Cllr Aftelak received notification in a telephone call just before Christmas, which has later been clarified in an email exchange with the Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer for the North Wessex Downs AONB, that this has been passed to the recently re-launched Sustainable Development Fund of the North Wessex Landscape Trust. Most of their grants are around £1,000 although they can provide up to £3,000 for some projects. Cllr Aftelak is currently awaiting to hear how LPC take this further as Cllr Aftelak has been given the impression that LPC shall need to complete another application form.
5. WARD COUNCILLOR REPORT (10 MINUTE)
No Ward Councillor report was given. LPC wished for the Clerk to email the Ward Councillor requesting that a report is provided for each meeting. Action- Clerk
Cllr Wilson expressed concern over the lack of consultation from SBC with Parishes, after a recent article was published in the Lyden Magazine regarding street lighting on the Wanborough Road. The residents of Wanborough did not want streetlights but SBC overturned the request as street lighting is required for safety reasons.
6. PUBLIC SESSION (15 MINUTES)
As no members of the public were in attendance or had made representations, the Parish Council continued with the meeting.
Minutes – January 2023 Page 2 of 3
7. PLANNING MATTERS (10 MINUTES)
(a) To consider any planning applications:
The meeting noted that no planning applications were received.
(b) To note any decisions:
Application: S/22/1331
Location: The Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road Swindon SN3 6BB
Proposal: Erection of a single storey building to form extension to existing Emergency Department, re-alignment of Coatside Way, re provision of ambulance parking, installation of associated rooftop plant and associated works- Granted
8. FINANCE (10 MINUTES)
(a) To approve payment of the following invoices:
Resolved: Cllr Lomax proposed approval of the invoices, standing order, recurring payment and ratification of the payments made between meetings. Cllr Wilson seconded the proposal and was unanimously agreed.
• HMRC- Tax Month 9- £31.20
(b) To approve payment of the following Standing Orders:
• Adams & Watt – Annual grass cutting contract – January instalment- £604.87
(c) To approve the following Direct Debits:
• Three Mobile phone bill – £3.00
• ICO renewal- £35.00
(d) To approve payment of the following recurring payments
• Unlimited webhosting – (18/12/2022- 17/01/2023) – £4.79
(e) To ratify payments made between meetings
• Salary December- £201.40
• Adams & Watt- Churchyard grass cut- £1,154.80
(f) To receive the monthly account reconciliation
Resolved: The meeting noted the accounts were in good order. The Clerk advised that an email had been sent to the Church Warden requesting the closed Churchyard money received from SBC be changed and paid directly to LPC.
(g) Q3 Budget Monitoring
Resolved: The meeting noted that the budget was on track.
9. TO AGREE ANNUAL BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2022/23 (10 MINUTES)
Resolved: To continue to maintain the level of service provided the meeting proposed that a small increase in the precept was necessary as had been discussed at the December PC Meeting.
Resolved: That the precept be set at £19,000, which together with the Council Tax support grant of £455 will make a total income for 2023-24 of £19,455.00.
10. ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT (5 MINUTES)
To receive the Internal Audit Report for 2021-22 as provided by Auditing Solutions
Resolved: The Meeting noted that the report was very good, with no issues or advisories identified. Cllr Aftelak thanked the Clerk, on behalf of LPC, for keeping everything in good order.
11. VILLAGE MATTERS (15 MINUTES)
a) Progress on renovation of the Old Speed Monitor – Cllr Wilson has made the box required for the leads. Cllr Wilson, Lomax and Bunney to meet and arrange for the box to be installed, along with the solar panel.
Action-Cllr Wilson/Lomax/Bunney
b) Clay Pigeon Shoot- discussed under item 4
1. COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS (10 MINUTES)
Councillors who have attended meetings on behalf of the Parish Council or who are responsible for local schemes, amenities and projects will have the opportunity to provide an update on progress made.
Allotments (LH) – Invoices are due to be sent by the end of January. Clerk to consult with L Hyatt. Action- Clerk
Playing Field (CB) – Cllr Bunney confirmed that the fortnightly safety inspections had been carried out on 16th December 2022.
Minutes – January 2023 Page 3 of 3
Village Hall Committee (JM) – The Village Hall Fete Committee are meeting on January 10th- Cllr’s Bunney, Lomax and Aftelak to attend.
Town Advisory Engagement Group (GW) – The last meeting was held in December 2022 which was a review of all projects that are going ahead. There has been a lot of work going on in the HAZ (Heritage Action Zone), there is now a 5 year partnership with Historic England.
Swindon Local Council Forum (DL & GW) – Next meeting is due to take place in March.
Parish Chairs/Clerks Engagement Meeting (DL) – SBC have suggested that they wish for Parishes to take on more services but this has gone back for re-consultation due to the fact that not all Parishes are capable of taking on extra services.
NEV Meeting (DL) – No update provided.
Cllr Wilson explained that the 20MPH scheme has been accepted for Liddington but will come later on in the project. It was noted that SBC felt the scheme had enough community support from the residents of Liddington.
The meeting noted that SBC lost the appeal for Symmetry Park.
13. PARISH MAGAZINE (5 MINUTES)
The meeting agreed to put the following into the Parish Magazine
• Village Clean up – 25th March 2023
• Councillor Vacancy
• Precept
14. CORRESPONDENCE
The meeting noted that no correspondence had been received.
15. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/FUTURE AGENDA
No items were raised for information or future agenda items.
The meeting closed at 8:10pm
Signed…………………………………………………………………………………Date……………………………………….